Reaper mechanism



' Patented Aug. 12, 1890.

XW @www W. LOTTRID'GE. REAPBR MEGHANISM.

(No Model.)

VUNrTnD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAM LOTTRIDGE, OF GRINNELL, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF PART TO M. V. INICHOLS AND C. H. OOTTER, BOTH OF OSAGE, IOlVA.

REAPER MECHANISIVI.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 434,048, dated August12, 1890.

Application filed February 15, 1889. Serial No. 300,074. (No model.)

To all whom. it may concern:

I'e it known that I, VILLIAM LOTTRIDGE, a citizen of the United Statesof America, and

' a resident of Grinnell, in the county of Powesheik and State of Iowa,have invented an Improved Reaper Mechanism, of which the following is aspecification.

My object is to narrow the machine when not in use without shifting atraction-wheel, and to facilitate the movement of the cut grain from oneendless carrier to another and at the same time straighten the straws,as required to produce a straight gavel and neat compact bound sheaf,and I accomplish the results contemplated, as hereinafter set forth,pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,in which- Figure l is a top view of a reaper-frame to which my improvedoperative mechanism is applied as required for practical use. Fig. 2 isa top View with one side removed, and Fig. 3 a transverse sectional viewof a rotating fork of peculiar construction and specially adapted to beoperated in combination with endless carriers. Fig. 4 is a sectionalview showing two rotating forks combined with two endless carriers thatextend through different planes as required to advance cut grain fromthe sickle and elevate it to a binder. Fig. 5 is a side view of therotating forks combined with the platform-frame as required to advancegrain from the end of the platform-carrier and to straighten the strawsrelative to each other. p

A is the rear sill of the main carriage-frame, said frame beingsupported upon tractionwheels of uniform size and in parallel positionat the opposite sides of the frame. Sill A is preferably made ofchannel-iron.

A2 are the front and rear bars of the fixed section of theplatform-frame, made of angleiron and fixed to the irons A3, that extendfrom the main frame. A4 is ahinged section or extension of theplatform-frame hinged to the angle-iron bars or pieces A2 in such amanner that it can be extended and supported in the same plane occupiedby the fixed section or part of the platform, and also turned upward andinward, so that it will be within the width of the main carriage-frame,as required to pass through gateways and to facilitate the moving of themachine from one place to another.

To bring the sickle Within the narrowed width of the machine I detach itfrom the machine and place it on the narrowed platforln.

Heretofore I have made a transformable reaper in which a traction-wheelwas combined with an adjustable section of a platform in such a mannerthat the Width of the machine could be narrowed; butI now hinge asection of the platform-frame to the machine so that it can be extendedbeyond the traction-wheel, as required for practical use, and readilyturned inward to overlap the 'xed portion of the platform withoutchanging the position of a traction-wheel or its supports.

B are drive-Wheels on the axles of the traction-wheels.

B2 is a driving-shaft in` bearings fixed to the frame and connected withthe drivewheels B in such a manner that power will be transmitted andspeed increased.

B3 is a rotating shaft in parallel position with the shaft B2 andconnected therewith by means of sprocket wheels and chains, so thatpower will be transmitted thereto and speed increased.

c c are the mating parts of a grooved cam or wheel detachably fixed tothe shaft B3 in such a manner that they can be adjusted relative to eachother, as required, to jointly engage the end of a lever to compensatefor Wear and to prevent undue friction. These sections are cast inmolds, and their faces, which are subject to wear, are preferablychilled and hardened.

c is a lever pivoted to the frame and connected with the sickle in acommon way at one end and extended into the serpentine cam-grooveproduced by the mating parts c in such a manner that the rotary motionof the cam will im part a vibrating motion to the sickle, as required tocut grain, as the machine is advanced. Power is thus transmitted fromthe motion of the parallel tractionwheels t0 the sickle and the speed ofthe sickle increased. An anti-friction roller is placed on the end ofthe lever that extends into the cam c c. l I

D are rotating rakes, that may vary in IOO length as desired, mounted inparallel position upon the platform and at right angles thereto, asrequired to engage and move and straighten cut grain advanced upon anendless carrier D2. The upper rotatingrake projects beyond the lower oneand over the sickle, so that its tines Willcome in contact with strawthat projects fo-rward over the carrier and the sickle. `These rakes arecylindrical in form and constructed in such a manner that the tines willbe thrust out to engage and move the grain and drawn in to prevent anystraw from being carried around out of the line of advance in which thegrain is lto be mowed.

fare the angular heads or ends of my ro tating cylinder.

f are integral circular flanges.

f are side pieces in the form of segments fixed to the angular heads f,as required to produce a hollow cylinder.

g is a crank-shaft that extends through the axis of the heads f, itscrank being eccentric thereto.

1 2 3 4 are tines bent around the crank of the shaft at their innerends'andput through perforations in the cylinder in such a manner thatthey will be carried around the shaft when the cylinder is rotated andthe shaft is stationary.

71. is a gudgeon on the end of one of the heads f, that enters a bearingfixed to the frame in' such a manner that it can be readil y connectedwith the driving mechanism by means of gearing, as shown in Figs. 1 andThe shaft g extends into a bore in the axis of one of the heads f andthrough a bore inthe axis of the other and into a fastening device i,that is fixed to the platform-frame in such a manner that the cylindercan be rotated while the shaft remains stationary,I as required toproject the tines on one side of the cylinder only at each revolution,as shown in Figs. 2 andB, and as required to take hold and let go ofthe'cut grain that comes in contact therewith and is advanced thereby.

I'claini as my inventionl. In a grain-harvester having a iixed platformextending forward froml the carriagewheels, a platform-section hinged tothe grain end of said fixed platform so to extend lat erally andhorizontally in front of the carriage-wheels and in the plane of thefixed platform, so that it can be readily turned upward and inward overthe fixed section in front of the carriage-wheels, for the purposesstated.

v2. In a4 harvester, the combination, with the platform and carrier, ofa rotating rake at the delivery end of the carrier, andla longerrotating rake above it extendingforward over the sickle, substantiallyas show-n and described, for the purposes stated.

WILLIAM LOTTRIDGE.

Vitnesses:

' J oHN G. PETTIL,

R. RICKER.

